QRZ Callsign Database Policy Change

Effective today, the QRZ Callsign database is changing the way we serve callsign data to our web (browser) based users. These changes have been brought on by a steadily increasing number of automated systems that access the QRZ data in so-called hidden or stealth mode. Such systems create a significant load on the QRZ servers and in doing so, deprive ordinary users of the performance that they deserve.

These robots (or 'bots') come in many forms. Some are designed to scrape the entire website for every piece of information we have. Others, known as "log checkers" are programs written by hams that repeatedly query the QRZ servers while working through lists of 10's of thousands of callsigns, doing it as rapidly as possible. Finally, some logging programs provide "auto fill" features that use the QRZ servers in the background to fetch callsign data as soon as the user types in a callsign.

For the past several years, QRZ has provided an XML Data service that was specifically designed to serve automated requests such as those described above. The XML service is an extremely lightweight and flexible system that places less than 1/10 of the load on our database that a "stealth" callsign lookup does on our regular pages. In addition, our advertisers are being deprived of ad exposures by these programs which routinely ignore or discard all such non-callsign data as they scrape our site.

Today's changes address these issues with a new set of constraints that we have developed with the goal of providing fast and fair access to all QRZ users. The following is a summary of what these measures mean:
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Callsign data, including name, address, and other QSL and logging information will be shown only to registered users of QRZ who are logged in at the time of the request. Guests that have not logged in will still see the callsign Bio page and pictures, but no callsign information will be shown.

Registered users who are logged in will see the full detail on callsign pages.

Ham users, i.e. those whose user name matches a callsign in our database, are limited to 100 callsign page lookups per day, not including their own callsign page.

Non-ham users, i.e. users who aren't hams or don't have a username that matches one of our callsigns, will be limited to 25 callsign lookups per day.

QRZ subscribers, of any type, are granted unlimited daily access to the QRZ callsign data.

These limits are designed for fairness and the vast majority of our ham users will never be affected by them, aside from the new requirement that you must be logged in to see callsign data. Note as well that when looking up or viewing your own callsign page that the act does not count against your daily lookup limit.

We ask for your support in accepting these changes and understanding that they were necessary in order to maintain the high level of service and support that our users have grown accustomed to.

We in the Amateur Radio community sincerely appreciate the ongoing service(S) QRZ dot COM provides... The "bad guys" out there keep on keeping on, and it is important to not let them ruin sites such as QRZ! Thank you---es 73! Mark Nelson AA6DX - FAR Northern California.

I understand the reason for the change. How do I get my logging program (EasyLog5) to still automatically insert the name and QTH from QRZ.com.Even when I log in to QRZ.com, my logging program does not recognize the data. Thanks. Guy Smiley WA1GS

As a regular user, via the DXLab programs, I hope this will not affect me all that much. I do have my system set up to automatically look up all calls which I double click on the SpotCollector page. I am down to only needing 4 countries, so those numbers have decreased considerably the past couple of years. I do, on occasion, get into a 6 meter contest, and QRZ.com is usually the only way I know what state those contacts are in, but even then, I seldom would work more than 150 of them on a weekend. I have in the past, as what I hoped was a help in paying for the playing, clicked on ads on the web pages. I know others that have been doing the exact same thing, and would remind you that this might change those habits, especially if they normally would look at more than 150 call signs a day and find themselves locked out. I also use the page to attempt to find valid email addresses, to ask others as to status of cards I have been expecting, or even to ask for schedules, etc. Sadly, a very large percentage of emails addressed that way, bounce. Those who have listed their email addresses apparently need to be reminded to update them, when they change IP companies. Meanwhile thanks for being there.

I thoroughly enjoy the information on QRZ and appreciate the effort to deselect abusers of the data contained on the QRZ.com site. The most important part I use is the callsign lookup and bio browsing and the addresses for QSLing to. The email link is a nice feature too. Again, thanks for the website.

Now I am glad that I subscribe to the XML service as the logging program I use "Commcat" has used that since it became available. HRD is one of the biggest offenders of using the "stealth" mode. Maybe hrd will have to be rewritten to use the xml service........

I use Ham Radio Deluxe for logging. How do I get HRD to insert the QTH and other data as I log contacts? Was working great before. Do I have to make a change to HRD someplace? HELP!!!

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1) subscribe to the QRZ.com XML service
2) In the HRD logbook, click on the tools menu, then Configure -> Callsign Lookup.
3) When the window opens, click on the Lookup Options tab, and then choose the radio button for Subscription Interface.
4) Make sure your QRZ.com username and password are filled in.

Fred, I think what you do here at QRZ.com has a huge positive effect on ham radio. Do whatever you need to do. I and many others are behind you all the way.

Personally, I don't much give a damn if I have internet access in my shack or not, or any kind of electronic logging. Shut down all access to everyone except registered users actually logged in, and I'm with you. 73

Personally, I don't much give a damn if I have internet access in my shack or not, or any kind of electronic logging. Shut down all access to everyone except registered users actually logged in, and I'm with you. 73

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Why would you? Likewise I wouldnt care if the price of TV Guide , or Geritol went up 400%, I dont use it.